SMALLER FLASHLIGHTS FOR LAPD SWITCH COMES AFTER BEATING CAUGHT ON TAPE.

Byline: Beth Barrett Staff Writer

In the wake of a videotaped beating of Stanley Miller by an LAPD officer wielding a 2-pound metal flashlight, the Police Commission on Tuesday gave Chief William Bratton the authority to buy smaller, lighter devices.

Bratton said a smaller flashlight will be easier to carry, will provide just as much light and, when combined with training, will reduce the potential liability to the city without jeopardizing officer safety. He insisted he was not bowing to political pressure over the June 23 beating of Miller, a car theft suspect.

``There was no political pressure brought to bear from anyone in this matter,'' Bratton said. ``The idea for this new flashlight was mine.

``I see this as an enhancement of their safety or operational proceedings.''

It will take six to 12 months to select and purchase replacement flashlights at a total cost of about $500,000, officials said.

Los Angeles Police Protective League officials opposed the change, calling it another erosion of the tools officers need to protect themselves in the field.

``Because of an incident, that's not a reason to take away a tool,'' league President Bob Baker said. ``Maybe additional training should be used, but the department is not doing that.

``This comes at a time when the city has a lack of money and wants to spend $500,000 to $1 million on flashlights, when it could be used for training or to hire more officers.''

Commission Vice President Alan J. Skobin also criticized the decision, saying the members had surrendered their oversight responsibility on a key officer-safety issue.

``The commission failed to show independent leadership on this issue,'' Skobin said.

But Commissioner Rick Caruso said Bratton should have the authority to decide what equipment his officers use.

``The chief controls the uniform,'' Caruso said. ``The chief has a broader range of facts.''

The new $50 flashlights can be a maximum of 10 inches long and weigh 12 ounces; only those less than 7 inches long can be made of metal. The department will begin issuing the smaller flashlights to recruits as soon as it can find funding.

Bratton said the LAPD is keeping abreast of developments in law-enforcement tools and training, including the ability to carry the popular Glock firearm.

And in the wake of the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Devin Brown in a moving vehicle, the LAPD has changed its policy, banning shooting at vehicles in favor of officers getting out of the way.

The new pursuit policy also includes the use of the ``spike strip'' and in specific cases allows for officers to bump a suspect's rear panel at relatively slow speeds to end a pursuit.

Beth Barrett, [phone]

beth.barrett(at)dailynews.com